Photographic print basket



Aug. 10, 1965 w. G. HILL PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT BASKET Filed March 8, 1965it... 12.55:! Winn w n J bar/6.221% M 44 WM United States Patent 03,199,431 PHQBTQGRAPHEC PRENT BASKET William (G. Hill, H163 Walnut dh,Des llaines, Ell. Filed Mar. s, was, Set. No. 263,772 '7 (Claims. c1.95-ttltl) This invention relates generally to print baskets for use inprocessing photosensitive films and more particularly, relates to anovel construction for a print basket of the character described inwhich novel prefabricated insert means are utilized to provide thecompartments of the print basket.

Print baskets of the general character with which the invention isconcerned have been used in large-volume processing of photosensitivesheets such as would be the case in commercial photographic printing anddeveloping business. The basket is provided with a plurality ofindividual compartments open at the upper ends thereof into each ofwhich one or more photographic sheets can be inserted for immersion inthe processing solutions used. Heretofore, the compartments have beenformed by means of sheets of mesh material, such as, stainless steel orin accordance with more recent innovations, of plastic materialsresistant to the processing solutions, and the baskets have beendesigned into more or less standard sizes and configuration for use withavailable processing equipment. It is very desirable to have availablesuch print baskets which permit increased numbers of photographic sheetsto be processed simultaneously without departing from such standardsizes and shapes and to avoid unduly expensive structures. One of thereasons for this is that the frame of the basket usually is made ofstainless steel so as to be resistant to the chemical solutionsencountered. These baskets are quite expensive, and hence, it is verydesirable to achieve efficiency and advantageous use of increased numberof compartments for the sheets without achieving a large, bulky andunnecessarily expensive print basket structure. Prior baskets also havebeen somewhat limited as to the number of compartments thereof becauseof the techniques employed in forming the compartments by means ofindividual sheets of mesh material and the manner of supporting saidmesh sheets in the basket structure.

Accordingly, the major object of the invention is to provide a printbasket of the character described which is characterized by aconstruction which will enable the foregoing as well as other advantagesto be achieved, with substantial economy in the construction thereof ascompared to heretofore available print baskets.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a print basket of thecharacter described which enables an increased number of photographicsheets to be simultaneously processed than has heretofore been feasiblewithout increasing the conventional sizes for such baskets.

Another object of this invention is to provide a print basket of thecharacter described in which the walls of the compartments are formed bypolymeric screening maintained under tension and suitably spaced apartto provide an increased number of such compartments without relying oncomplicated supported framework for the basket and Without departingfrom standardized sizes for such baskets.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a print basketof the character described in which the compartments for thephotosensitive films are formed by means of at least one prefabricatedinsert unit, said insert unit comprising a pair of molded end barmembers having polymeric mesh material supported therebetween inparallel, vertically arranged planes spaced apart to provide the wallsof said compartments open at the upper ends thereof, the lateral ends ofsaid walls being molded in said hlhhfil Patented Aug. ll), i965 ice endbars so as to be rigidly held in said spaced apart arrangement.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a novelprefabricated insert unit for use in making photographic print basketsof the character described, said insert unit comprising a pair of moldedend bars having a single sheet of polymeric mesh material loopedtherebetween to form a plurality of parallel, vertically arranged wallsdefining a series of open-ended, separated compartments between said endbars for said photographic film.

Another object of the invention is to provide an insert unit of thecharacter described having threaded socket inserts molded into the endbars thereof for mounting the insert unit in the basket with said Wallsunder tension and said unit is adapted to be employed in multiple numberof like units to make baskets of different conventional sizes used inthe photographic processing field.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will become apparentas the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain featuresof construction, arrangement and a combination of parts hereinafterfully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understoodthat various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details ofthe structure may be made without departing from the scope orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a print basket constructed in accordancewith the invention and having three like insert units assembled therein.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the insert units which togetherwith like units are used to make the basket of PEG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1and in the general direction indicated.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through the basket alongthe line l4 of FIG. 1 and in the general direction indicated.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom perspective view of one insertunit embodying the invention.

Referring now to the drawing, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a printbasket embodying the invention which is designated generally by thereference character Ill. The basket it is adapted to be manipulated bymeans of handles 11, 11a for immersion in the various chemical solutionsused in photographic film processing and developing procedures. Thehandles are pivotally attached to the upper end of the frame of thebasket 19 by suitable fasteners 12.

The basket is comprised of a generally open, rectangular frame formed bytop horizontally oriented cross members 13, and bottom horizontallyoriented cross members 13a. End plates 14, 14a of channel-shaped crosssection are fitted between the cross members 13, 13a at right anglesthereto and are connected therewith by suitable means, such as spotwelding or rivets, to form a rigid frame construction. The handles ill,11a and end plates 14, 14a and the cross members are formed of asuitable material, such as stainless steel, so as to be resistant tochemical solutions into which the basket is intended to be immersed.

The basket lib is illustrated as assembled with three identicalprefabricated insert units, an individual insert unit being shown inFIG. 2 and identified generally by the reference character 17. It willbe understood, that the print basket embodying the invention likewisecould be formed of fewer or more than three sections 17, such asillustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the insert unit 17 is comprised of a plurality ofmesh or screen walls 2]. of plastic or polymeric material to which havebeen permanently molded the end bars 22a and 22b. The mesh walls 21 areformed of a suitable material, such as vinylidene chloride resin. Theend bars preferably are formed of a thermosetting plastic resin, such asepoxy resins, and have in addition to the mesh walls arrangedtherebetween, threaded screw sockets 23 rigidly secured therein andopening to an outside face 30 of each end bar. The type of epoxy resincomposition used for the end bars 22a and 22b is selected from thoseepoxy resins which are chemically inert relative to the various chemicalsolutions used and also, which preferably can be cured satisfactorily atroom temperatures.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it will be noted that the threaded socketinserts -3 are molded into faces 3% of the end bars at selectedlocations spaced along the length thereof. The end bars 22a and 22b arejoined to the end plates 14 in face to face contact and coextensive inlength therewith by means of screw fasteners, such as stainless steelscrews 31. In the embodiment described and illustrated, all of the Walls21 have been formed from a single sheet or web of mesh or screen plasticmaterial. The single sheet or web is disposed between and drawn from oneend bar 22a to the other end bar 225 in continuous loops 34 to form theindividual compartments 33 for holding the sheets. The compartments areopen at the top and bottom ends thereof. The loops 3d are firmlyimbedded in the cured resin end bars 22a and 22b. This insures a securecoupling between the screen walls and the end bars which accounts forthe excellent rigidity of the compartment walls when the insert 17 isinstalled.

The mesh or screen walls 21 of the insert are maintained quite tautbetween the end bars 22a and 2222 by means of the screws 31 which extendthrough suitable openings in the end plates aligned with said sockets 23but which do not bottom prematurely in tie insert sockets. Thus, thescreen walls 21 are maintained substantially parallel in their verticalarrangement and do not bow between their points of attachment to the endbars. This is accomplished notwithstanding the very flexible nature ofthe screen material used to form the walls 21 which appear to bestretched quite tautly by means of the end bars bearing against the endplates completely along the length thereof and secured thereto by thefasteners 31.

The bottom ends of the compartments have a cord 52, best shown in FIG.5, laced along the end interstices of the screen walls 21. Although thecord has been shown somewhat angled relative to the vertical plane ofthe walls 21, the cord also may be at right angles to said walls. Thecord 52 is intended to be somewhat loose as to prevent photographic filmfrom creeping under the bottom edges of the screen walls. When aphotographic sheet of film is inserted into a compartment, its weight issupported on the screen or perforated member ll on the bottom of theframe of the basket.

In actual practice, the preformed insert unit 17 can be in any desiredsize and assembled to make different sizes of baskets using multiplenumbers thereof by varying the size of the basket frame.

The assembly of the basket with the required number of inserts 17 is arelatively simple procedure. The basket frame is fabricated first byinterconnecting the various frame members thereof to form a rigid openframework. The end bars 22a and 22b are then attached to the end plates14 and 14a by inserting screws 31 through suitable openings in the endplates that line up with the threaded insert sockets 23 molded into theend bars. The screws are tightened completely to draw the bars intoflush engagement with end plates, and hence pull the screen walls 21taut. It should be noted that all of the screen walls of each sectionwill be equally tight and hence, have the same high degree of rigidity.Obviously, the length of fit the screen walls 21 will be predeterminedfor each size of basket so that said walls will be taut when the insert1!" is installed. Likewise, the size of the channel-shaped end plates14, Ma will be so Jredeterrnined to accoznmodate the inserts 17 betweenthe side legs 53 thereof as seen in FIG. 1.

it may be noted that prior to assembly of the basket it), the insertunis 217 can be storaged conveniently merely by rolling them into acompact, small volume size. Such a collapsible structure thereforreduces storage space required for them and contributes to saving incost of operation.

it further should be noted that by molding the screen walls Zll into theend bars 22a and 225, the screen walls may be arranged in Closer spacedrelationship one relative to the other so that more compartments 33 canbe realized than heretofore possible without having the screen wallstouch. Although in the embodiment shown, he insert 17 has thecompartments thereof formed from a single sheet of screen material, itis contemplated that more than one sheet of material may be used withequal advantage. In either event, the loops are imbedded in the hardenedepoxy resin of the end bars 22a and 2% which insures secure couplingbetween the walls and the end bars. This enables the screen Walls to bearranged close together and maintained taut in their spaced apartrelationship when the end bars are threadedly fastened to the end plates14. Thus, in a conventional size print basket, an increased number ofcompartments can be obtained as compared to heretofore conventionalstructures.

It is believed that the invention can be readily understood from theforegoing Without further description. While a preferred embodiment ofthe invention has been shown and described for illustrative purposes,the invention is more particularly pointed out in the claims apendedhereto in language intended to be broadly construed commensurate withthe progress in the arts and sciences contributed by the invention.

What it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

It. A photographic print basket comprising, a substantially rectangularopen framework, a pair of vertical end plates closing off opposed endsof said framework, a plurality of prefabricated insert units preformedas a unitary assembly removeably secured between said end plates, eachinsert unit comprising a pair of plastic end bars adapted to be securedto said end plates, mesh wall members molded in said end bars andextending between said end bars, means fastening said end bars to saidend plates to place said mesh wall members under tension when said endbars are secured to said end plates, said Wall members formingcompartments being open at the top for reception of photosensitivesheets, and means retaining said sheets within said compartments.

2. A print basket as claimed in claim 1 in which said mesh walls areprovided by means of a single web of mesh material, bight portions ofwhich are molded in said end bars.

3. A print basket as described in claim 1 in which each of said end barshave a plurality of socket inserts embedded therein and said end plateshave openings therethrough each of which is aligned with one of saidsocket inserts, and screw means passing through said openings andthreadedly received in said sockets for securing said end bars and endplates together and tensioning said wall members.

4. A print basket including a substantially rectangular open framework,a pair of vertical end plates closing off opposed ends of saidframework, and a plurality of prefabricated insert units preformed as aunitary assembly removeably secured between said end plates, theimprovement comprising each insert unit having a pair of plastic endbars adapted to be secured to said end plates, mesh wall members moldedin said end bars and extending between said end bars, means fasteningsaid end bars to said end plates to place said mesh wall members undertension when said end bars are secured to said end plates, said Wallmembers forming compartments being open at the top for reception ofphotosensitive sheets, and means retaining said sheets Within saidcompartments.

5. A unit as described in claim 4 in which said mesh Wall members arecomprised of vinylidene chloride and said end bars are formed of anepoxy resin.

6. A unit as described in claim 4 and further inciuding socket membersmolded into said end bars for attachment to said end plates.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/54 Shapiro95-98 6/59 Hixon et a1. 95100 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

1. A PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT BASKET COMPRISING, A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAROPEN FRAMEWORK, A PAIR OF VERTICAL END PLATES CLOSING OFF OPPOSED ENDSOF SAID FRAMEWORK, A PLURALITY OF PREFABRICATED INSERT UNITS PREFORMEDAS A UNITARY ASSEMBLY REMOVEABLY SECURED BETWEEN SAID END PLATES, EACHINSERT UNIT COMPRISING A PAIR OF PLASTIC END BARS ADAPTED TO BE SECUREDTO SAID END PLATES, MESH WALL MEMBERS MOLDED IN SAID END BARS ANDEXTENDING BETWEEN SAID END BARS, MEANS FASTENING SAID END BARS TO SAIDEND